Island for dispensing apparatus



Sept. 1, 1942.

P. E. THOMASON ISLAND FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed July 15 AN. PAUL'ETHOMHSON P. E. THOMASON ISLAND FOR DISPENSINGAPPARATUS Sept. 1, 1942.

' Filed July 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PAUL E.

3 vcnto Tuomnsou Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UN 1 TE D STATES PAT EN T OF P 1CE ISLAND FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS Paul E. Thor'nason, Charlotte, IN. 0.

Application July 15, 1940, Serial *No. 345,651

'3 Claims.

This invention relates to a hollow island for supporting dispensingapparatus, such as gasoline pumps and the like, at service stations andmore especially to an article-of this type preferably made of structuralsteel so that it may be easily moved from one location to another and sothat access can be had to the interior thereof.

Heretofore, service station islands have commonly been made of concrete.When using concrete, it is necessary to first install the pipe andelectrical conduits, and then pour the concrete therearound to form theisland. Once the concrete has set, it is impossible to change the pipingsystem without destroying all, or at least a part, of the concreteisland. Furthermore, the service stations very often operate on propertyleased for short term intervals. Under such circumstance, it isobjectionable to the lessor for a concrete island to be left upon hisproperty-after the lease has terminated and after the lessee hasvacated. The objection to a concrete structure being left upon thepremises is based 'upon the expense involved in breaking the island intosmall pieces and removing it so that the premises will be suitable forother uses.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a hollow islandfor supporting dispensing apparatus for service stations and the like,which is so constructed that it can be moved from place to place, as theoccasion demands, and so that access to the interior thereof can be moreeasily obtained for inspection and alteration of the plumbing.

It is another object of this invention to provide a hollow portableisland for service stations which is formed in sections and which can beeasily assembled and dismantled. By providing removable sections, a twopump station can 'be increased to a three pump station or more by merelyadding other sections. If the number of dispensing apparatus such asDumps mustbe decreased, the side of the island can be decreasedaccordingly, by merely removing sections. In other words, the size ofthe island 'canbe altered to correspond to the number of dispensingmechanisms used, thereby providing a balanced .structure at all times.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hollow servicestation island which has a apertures in the side walls thereof in whichadvertising matter is located, and in which lighting means is disposedon the interior thereof fordisplaying advertising matter at night, andillumination of the driveways adjacent thereto. Also means maybeprovided for heating the interior of the island.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description :proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an isometric view'of myimproved service station island, showing a plurality'of sections, eachof which has a service station pump mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken alon the line 2-2 inFigure 1';

Figure 3 is 'an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the line 33in Figure 1, showing the means employed for removably attaching thesections to each other;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view "taken along the lines'44 in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken alon the lines5-5 in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional View similar to the uppercentral portion ofFigure 4 :showing the means for removably placing aplate over the access port of one of the sections;

Figure 7 is an inverted isometric view of one of the end sections of theisland shown in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is an inverted isometric view of the center island sectionshown in Figure 1.

Referring morespecifically to the draw-ings the numeral I 0 denotestheground or other supporting means in which a plurality of anchor boltsH are mounted. The upperends of the anchor bolts H project a substantialdistance above the surface of the ground or other support l0, and are solocated as-to be in a position to penetrate holes 12 in the base framesl4 and 15 of island sections it and I! respectively. If the surface I0is not level, suitable washers, not shown, may be placed between theisland and surface to cause sition. When the sections have been properlypositioned and "leveled, suitable nuts Ha are screwed onto the upperends of the anchor bolts l I to hold the sections in anchored position.

The structural features of the island sections l6 and I! are essentiallythe same. It will be noted by observing Figure 1 that there is onecenter island section I5 and two end sections which are identical exceptone is opposite hand to theother; and therefore both end sections areindicated by the reference characters Ill. The section 16 has a frame"20 disposed directly above the bottom frame 1'4. 'These frames are heldin spaced relation to each other by side plates 2| and 22 by anysuitable means such as welding or the like. On top of the frame issecured suitable parallel elongated plates 23 and 24 by any suitablemeans such as welding or the like, said elongated plates being spacedapart from each other, thereby leaving openings 25 which are normallyclosed by means of plates 26. These openings serve as manholes or accessports which are used when it is desired to gain access to the interiorof the hollow sections.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged detailed view of the manner in which plates26 are removably secured to the top side of the sections. It is hereseen that suitable screws 2'! are employed which penetrate the plates 25and have the lower ends thereof threadably embedded in the top frame 29of the section. Disposed between the openings 25 and between theproximate ends of plates 26 is an opening 30 over which a suitablegasoline pump 3| is adapted to be disposed. This pump is shown in dottedlines in Figure 1. When it is desired to gain access to the interior ofthe center section, the screws 21 can be removed thereby making itpossible to lift the plates 25 from over the opening 25.

The sidewall 2| of the center section l6 has an aperture 34 therein,said aperture being covered by a suitable transparent material such asglass plate 35 having advertising matter 36 painted thereon. Disposedbehind plate 35 is a suitable reflector 31, which reflector is pivotedas at 38 and has its upper free end latched as at 39. Disposed withinthis reflector is a suitable illuminating means such as an incandescentlight bulb 40. The light produced by the bulb is reflected through theglass 35, thus displaying the advertising matter 36 painted thereon. Ifdesired, both sides of the sections of the island may be of transparentmaterial and have advertising matter thereon and have illuminating meansas described.

When it is desired to gain access to the interior of the hollow sectionfor purposes of altering the piping system or for the inspection of thereflector 31, it is only necessary to remove the screws 21 and lift oneof the plates 26.

Figure 7 shows an inverted view of end section H which is adapted to beused in conjunction with center sections it. End section II comprises abottom frame I5, previously described, and a top frame 4| disposed inspaced relation thereabove and held in such position by means of avertically disposed plate 42, this plate being welded to the frame orsecured by any desired means. It will be noted that one end of sectionI! is rounded as at 43, so as to eliminate sharp corners which mightprove a hazard to automobiles which move in close proximity theretoduring a servicing operation.

The top frame 4| has a plate 44 secured thereon by any suitable meanssuch as welding or the like and this plate is cut away at opening 45 inthe frame 4|, said opening 45 being closed by means of a suitable plate26, previously described, which plate is held over the opening by meansof screws 21. Another opening 46 is adapted to be covered by the lowerend of a suitable pump 3|.

Likewise one of the sidewalls of section IT has an aperture 34 thereinwhich is identical in all respects to the aperture shown and describedin connection with the section It, hence another description will not bemade, but like reference characters will be applied to like parts.

In order to removably connect the sections l8 and I1 together, the endsof frames l4 and 2B of section I6 have suitable holes 50 providedtherein. These holes are adapted to match holes 5| in the ends of framemembers l5 and 4| of sections When the sections are assembled as shownin Figures 2 and 3, suitable bolts 52 are placed in the matched holes tothereby removably secure the sections together. Also the side plates 2|and 22 of the center section l6 have holes 54 therein. Similar holes 55are disposed in the ends of plates 42 of section II. These holes arematched by suitable holes in a splice plate 56 and when the splice plateis placed over these holes suitable bolts 51 are adapted to penetratethe same to bind the sidewalls of the adjacent sections together.

One of the outstanding advantages of a hollow structural island of thetype disclosed, is its adaptability for use in cold climates where thereis a tendency for ice to freeze on the upper surface thereof. Frozen iceupon islands presents a hazard which often results in injury toemployees as well as customers. In order to easily r eliminate thesehazards, a suitable heating coil 60 is disposed in each of the hollowsections. These coils may be heated in the winter so that the interiorof the island will be of a sufficient temperature to prevent ice on theexterior thereof.

Another advantage is that of having a place for the fill pipe to belocated so that the pipe can be shielded from the weather and also sothat easy access by unauthorized persons can be prevented. In thepresent dis-closure, a fill pipe 6| is provided within the hollow caseand directly beneath removable plate 26. It is seen that this plateprevents moisture from entering the fill pipe and also places the pipeout of view so that there will be less likelihood of tampering by thosewho wish to withdraw gasoline therefrom illegally.

It is thus seen that the island which I have provided is capable ofbeing easily assembled or dismantled and it is also capable of beingremoved easily from place to place when it is desired to do so. Anadditional attractive feature is that of adjustment of the island lengthto correspond to the number of pumps which are to be placed at a servicestation; thereby producing a harmonious, symmetrical appearance, so faras the pump and the island are concerned.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable island for supporting service station dispensingapparatus, comprising a hollow structural member, said hollow memberhaving an opening therein over which the dispensing apparatus is adaptedto be placed, said member also having an access port therein, a plateremovably mounted over said port and means for anchoring said island instationary position.

2. A portable island for supporting service station pumps and the like,comprising an elongated hollow structural framework having a top portionand side portions, plates covering the top and side portions of theframework, said top portion having an opening therein over which a pumpis adapted to be placed, a removable plate adjacent said opening, andmeans for removably anchoring said island in stationary position.

plates secured to the top of the framework to provide a pair of openingsfor each pump, one of the openings being adapted to be closed by a pumpdisposed thereover and the other open- 3. A portable island forsupporting dispensing 5 ing having a plate removably secured thereoverpumps for service stations and the like comprising a rectangular metalframework having a flat top and vertical sidewalls, plates secured tothe framework and covering the sidewalls, other whereby access may begained to the interior of the island while a pump is supported thereby.

PAUL E. THOMASON.

